Steam grate-shaker.



.No. 845,090. :PATEN'II'ED FEB. 26, 1907.

w. H. HUGHES. STEAM GRATE SHAKER.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.18, 1905.

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No. 845,090. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907.

' W. H. HUGHES.

STEAM GRATE SHAKER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1905.

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ATTORNEYS No. 845,090. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907. W. H. HUGHES. I

STEAM GRATE SHAKER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18,.1905.

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/ ,Wglizafiz EJ692968 ATTORNEYS UNKTED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

WILLIAM H. HUGHES, F BlRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

STEAM GRATE SHAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed January 18,1905. Serial No. 241,682.

- of Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, havemade certain new and useful improvements in Steam Grate-Shakers, ofwhichthe following is a specification.

My invention. is an improvement in apparatus for shaking pivoted gratesor grate-sections. lt-is capable of general application in boiler andother furnaces, but isespecially useful in locomotives for freeing thegrates thereof of clinkers and other toreign substances mingled with thecoal. By my invention coal which carries a high per cent. of ash can beutilized without undue clogging of the furnace-arch, and slack coal canbe 1 iainly consumed instead of passing throughthe tines in suchquantity as to obstruct the net covering the smoke-box.

The details of construction, combination, and operation of parts are ashereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a face view of my improved apparatus' applied to alocomotive firebox. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bearing for therock or shaker shafts. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section of one of the fluid-motor cylinders and itssteam-chest, together with the connections between the piston-rod andthe rock or shaker shaft. Fig. 1 is a transverse section of thedistributing-valve teed inconnection with each flnid-motor cylinder.Fig. 5 is an enlarged face view of a portion of one of the fluid-motorcylinders and its valve-chest, together with the hand-lever mechanismfor operating the distribnthtg-valve arranged in said valve-chest. Fig.6 is a face view of the two finid-motor cylinders, together with thesteam-pipe connections for one of them and the mechanism connecting itspiston with the adjacent shaker-shaft. Fig. 7 is a vertical section farther illustrating the connection between one of the shaker-shafts and thegrate proper and also means for locking such shaker-shaft.

The drawings illustrate my invention as applied to a locomotive-boilerand rocking grate therefor; but, as before indicated, I do not intend totlms limit its rise.

1 In Fig. l the locomotive firebox is shown with rocking grate-sections2 and a drop or dump grate-section 3, the latter being arrangedcontiguous to the end wall of the firebox. It is to operate suchgrate-sections, or

others of some analogous type, that my invention is applicable.

1 arrange two vertical rock or shaker shafts 4 and a on opposite sidesof the aforesaid ,door 1, the same being journaled in fixed bearings 5-and 6,,secured to the end of the fire-box. Each of these rock-shafts isprovided at its lower end with a lateral arm 7, one of which isconnected by a rod or link 8 (see Fig. 2) with devices depending fromthe movable grate-section 2, while theother arm 7 is connected bysimilar means (not shown) with a like grate-section. (F ot shown.) Inother words, while a single rock-shaft may be employed for shaking agrate, Iprefer to en1- ploy two such shafts and to operate or rock themsimultaneously for shaking separate grate-sections. For this purpose Iemploy the following mechanism, namely: two steam-cylinders 10 10, whichare juxtaposed horizontally end to end and each provided with a slidablepiston 11, (see Fig. 3,) whose rod '12. is connected with a lateral arm18, fixed on the upper end of each rock shaft 4 and 4 As shown in Fig.6, each of the fluid-motor cylinders is provided with trunnions 14, the

same being arranged oppositely on the upper and lower sides of eachcylinder. As shown at the left in Fig. 6, the trunnions are journaled inbearings 15, the same being era tended laterally, as indicated in Fig.1, and

bolted to the head of the tire-box. Each cylinder is thas adapted torock or oscillate as required to operate in connection with the lateralarms 13 f the rock-shaft a. Each cylinder 10 and 10 is provided with asteamchest 16, in .which is arranged a distributionvalve 17, the samehaving a rod 18, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) which is pivoted to a verticalhanth lever 19, the same being pivoted at itsiower end 20. This leverworks in an arc-shaped. keeper 21, which limits its throw in oppositedirections. .It is apparent that l) vibrating said lever 19 the valve 17will be reciprocated in the steam-chest, as required to govern admissionof steam to the c linder t hrough the ports 22, (see Fig. 3,) the steambeing thus alternately admitted and exhausted from each side of thepiston, where. y the latter is rcciprocated and the rock-shafts a ioscillated for imparting a rocking movement to the grate-sections 2, aswill bereadily understood. Steam is admitted to the steamchests by pipes23,(see Fig. 1,) which are suitably connected with the steam-dome ofhese pipes in turn connect withtheboiler. the trunnions 14 of therespective motor-cyl-v inders, the trunnions being hollow and suitablepassages being provided in the walls of the cylinders for conductingsteam to the opposite ends of the steam-chests, where it is introducedby openings 24:. (See Fig. 3.) The valve 17 is hollow or provided with acentral longitudinal passage, so that the valve is balanced, steam beingalways present in the spaces at both "ends of the valve ,and under equalpressure thereinand in the valve itself. The central portion of thevalve is cut out or hollowed to allow space for exhaust, which iseffected through the port 25. It will be seen that the steam-ports 22and 25 are arranged in a well-known manner and that as the valve isshifted from one end to the other of the steam-chest 16 steam willbealternately admitted to and cut oilfrom the respective ends of theadjacent mo:

tor-cylinder, while exhaust will take place correspondingly. Pipes ZBQsee Fig. I) are connected with thelower trunnions of'thethe-shaker-shafts are connected may be rocked together or separately.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, a locking device consisting of alever-arm27 is pivoted to a lug on each of the rocking shafts 4 4, andis thus adapted to be placed in vertical position either up or down.When raised, as shown on the right handside of Fig. 1 and also in Fig.2, the arm 27 is held or supported by a cl evis-like keeper 28, thesame. being pivoted to the rockshaft. On the otherhand, when releasedfrom the keeper the said arm drops by gravity into the notch formed inthe bearing or keeper 5, whereby the rockshaft is locked or preventedfrom rotating on its. axis, and thereby the grate-sections connectedtherewith are held steady in horizontal position. The lock is shown onthe left in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 7; In case it is desired to shake thegrate-scetions manually a lever may be applied to the arms 27 and termporarily clamped thereto, as indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 7. I suchlever laterally or in a horizontal direcwords, dropped, to a Thus byvibrating tion a rock-shaft 4 or 4 may be rotated with the correspondingresult of oscillating the grate-sections.

lowered to vertical osition, or, in other llow dumping at that point bythe followin -described mechanism.

A sleeve 29 (see Figs. 1, 2, 7) is shown applied tothe right-handshaker-shaft 4", and it is provided at its lower end with a lateral arm30, which is connected by a link or rod 31 with that end of thegrate-section 3 which is farthest from the end of the fire-box. A

lever 32 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is fixed on the upper end ofthe sleeve 29,and by moving the same horizontally in the proper direction that is tosay, outward or away from the end of the fireboxthe sleeve 29 will berotated on the rock-shaft 4 and the grate-section 8 thereby thrown down,as indicated in 'Fig. 2. When the lever is parallel to the face of thefire-box, assho'wn in Fig. 1, it may be held up by akeeper 33, or it maybe allowed to hang vertical alongside the sleeve 29. Thus bycomparatively simple means I am enabled to rock-'grate-ssctions by theadmission of steam to the motor-cylinders or to dumpportio'ns thereof bythe manipulation of the handa lever.

.What I claim i sbination of a shaker-shaft journaled in bearings on afire-box and having upper-and lower arms, a fiuld-pressure-motorcylinder having a piston which is coupled to the-upper arm of theshaker-shaft, a link by which. the lower arm of said shaft is coupled.to a plurality of rocking grate-bars, a pivoted drop-grate, a sleevefitted freely on the shaker-shaft and coupled tothe drop-grate, and ahanddever coupled .to said sleeve for raising and lowering thedrop-grate by movement of the sleeve.

2. In a grate-shaking a pliance, the-com bination of a shaker-shaftjournaled vertically in bearings on the back head of a fire- 1. In agrate-shaking appliance, the combox, upper and lower arms fixed on saidshaft, a supporting-plate fixed on the firebox andlcarrying verticaltrunnion-bearings, a motor-cylinder having trunnions fitted in saidbearings, a piston'and rod in said cylin-' der, a connection couplingthe piston-rod to the upper arm of the shake'r-shaf t, a distribution-valve controlling" the supply and;.e xhaust of motive fluidto and from the motorcylindenan operating-lever connected to thedistribution-valve, and a rod or. link coupling the lower arm of theshaker-shalt to a rocking grate.

3. In a grate shaking appliance, the combination of ashaker-shaftjournaled vertically in hearings on the back head of afirebox, upper and lowerarms fixed on said shaft, a motor-cylinder fixedon the fire-box, a piston and rod in, said cylinder, means to IIS couplethe piston-rod to the upper arm of the shaker-shaft, adistribution-valve controlling the supply and exhaust of motive fluid toand from the motor-cylinder, an operating-lever connected to thedistribution-valve, a rod or link coupling the lower arm of theshakershaft to a rocking grate, and an arm fixed on the shaker-shaft andadapted for connection to a hand-operating lever.

4. In a grate-shaking appliance, the combination of a revolubleshaker-shaft journaled in bearings on the fire-box, one of said bearingsbeing provided with a socket, upper and lower arms on said shaft, afluid-pressuremotcr cylinder supported on the fire-box, a piston insaid. cylinder coupled to the upper arm of the shaker-shaft, a link forconnecting the lower arm of the shaft to a plurality of rockinggrate-bars, a short intermediate arm fixed on said shaft, a stub coupledto said arm and adapted to engage the socket in said bearing and ahand-lever when not engaging said socket. 1

5. Ina grate-shaking appliance, the combination of a revolubleshaker-shaft j ournaled in hearings on a fire-box, one of said bearingsbeing provided with a socket, upper and lower arms on said shaft, afluid-pres- &

sure-motor cylinder supported on the firebox, a piston in said cylinderadapted to be coupled to the upper armof the shaker-shaft, a link forconnecting the lower. arm of the shaft to a plurality of rockinggrate-bars, a short intermediate arm fixed on said shaft, a stub coupledto said arm and adapted to engage the socket in said bearing, a stirrupon the shaft and adapted to receive said stub when not engaged in saidbearing.

6. In a grate shaking appliance, the combination with a fire-box of aboiler, of a shaker shaft journaled thereto, a fire-door in said box,the upper end of said shaker-shaft extending above said fire-door, afluid-pressure motor connected to said fire-box above the fire-door,means to couple said motor to said shaft to rock the latter, a pluralityof rocking grate-bars, means to couple said bars to said shaft, means tolock said shaft, when not in operation, in position to hold saidgrate-bars horizontal, and means to shake said shakershaft by hand inthe event of the failure of said motor.

WILLIAM H. HUGHES. Witnesses:

LILA LIVELY, B. T. MAXEY.

